The diversity and the current state of piedmont geosystems in the Central Amur region

A special place in the landscape structure of the region is occupied by piedmont geosystems. They have an ecotone effect, a combination of the features of mountain and lowland systems. Most researchers classify piedmonts as belonging to the subclass of mountain landscapes or as an independent unit. The purpose of the paper is morphological characteristics of piedmont geosystems in the Central Amur Region and assessment of their current state due to the anthropogenic influence. The paper presents the characteristics of landscape diversity in piedmonts of the Central Amur Region. The analysis of presentations of place for piedmont geosystems in landscape classification is given in the work. A typological classification and physical-geographical regionalization of the piedmonts in the contact zone of the Little Khingan Mountains and the Central Amur lowland are given in the paper. Piedmont geosystems are examined in the mountain class of landscapes in the work. The piedmonts are allocated as an independent unit on the subclass level. In the study area four types of piedmont landscapes are distinguished. The heterogeneity of the study area can be traced on the scheme of natural regionalization of the Little Khingan Mountains. Piedmont landscapes in the contact zone of the Little Khingan Mountains and the Central Amur lowland belong to two natural provinces, five districts and they are identified as nine natural areas. The results of the total anthropogenic load estimation and anthropogenic landscape changes research of piedmont geosystems are shown. As a result of estimation of the integral anthropogenic load the studied geosystems were divided into five categories with the different value of index: from minimum to maximum. The sources of the destructive anthropogenic impact affecting piedmont landscapes are situated in the Central Amur lowland (settlements, roads, agricultural land) and they influence the state of biotic components. It was determined that most of the contact zone of the Little Khingan Mountains and the Central Amur lowland is characterized by weak anthropogenic load but significant anthropogenic changes. Negative anthropogenic influence from the objects located on the plain is the reason of this fact.

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